Step 2: The code

Step 3: Hooray!

You are done and you should have Revision 3 of my RGB LED transitioning program!

Hello Guys, in this instructable I will give you a code for transtioning an LED. My group, Newton Labs, has spent quite a bit of time on this. Transitioning isn't as easy as it seems for a nice smooth transition.

Step 1: The circuit

In this circuit, you will need to use 3 Pulse Width Modulation pins, PWM for short. Pins that are not specified as PWM pins are digital pins, which can only turn on and off. PWM pins can go from lets say 3.3 volts to five volts to 1.1 volts.

This was a very useful tutorial and program to help me get started in using the Arduino, thank you!

Because of the way the "i" counter works, this program will fail if you start using RGB values that are different than 255 or 0. I had many problems with the software counting too far.

I modified the software and created two completely different ways of processing the data (with slightly different results). If you or anyone is interested, get in touch with me :-) it allows you to custom set the RGB values without affecting the quality of the transition from one colour to the other.

Nice job! One note. Your drawing of the leads to the Arduino show that the long lead on the LED is hooked to GND (six pins down from the power plug). This should be to the 5volt plug (5 pins down). I tried to made a video of the project running and have posted it here. This is my first video with a new camera so don't expect a lot. The camera is mounted on a roll of duct tape, a coffee cup (newly emptied) and an old container of Crystal Light Peach Tea (ya do what works, right?). I covered the LED with a piece of paper to tone down the light so the changing of the colors could be seen. I don't know why it is so jumpy, it played fine before I uploaded it.

About This Instructable

Bio:Hey YOU! Yeah, I'm talking to you who is reading this. Send me ideas for instructables, like things that you are wondering how to make or build, or really anything electronically related, and I'll get...read more »